As part of its campaign to "defend and strengthen the Regional Health Service", the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) held an outreach session with patients and staff at the entrance of the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital to hear the problems faced by SESARAM users.
Party official Ricardo Lume said many patients reported waiting years for a consultation or surgery. He cited the case of a woman referred three years ago to ophthalmology for a later cataract operation, a situation the PCP says is worsening.
The party links these delays to growing waiting lists and argues that a stronger, public Regional Health Service is needed to guarantee care for everyone, regardless of income or social status.